THE POW guide
An office, a calculator and a number that will not fit on the screen. Here’s what you need for your first day at POW CORP.
The demo
The demo is free on itch.io (version 0.9.6, 64-bit Windows). It goes up to the sixth calculator, the Scientific one (5 rebirths). The full game is still in development.
- Download the ZIP (~50 MB).
- Unzip it (~150 MB).
- Open “THE POW.exe”. Nothing else to install, and your progress saves automatically.
The goal
Grow your number as much as you can: press the keys, keep your streak, release the POW and upgrade your gear on the PC. The bar at the bottom of the HUD shows each rebirth’s goal on a log scale, because numbers grow very fast: e2.57e13 is a number with more than 25 trillion digits.
If the number doesn’t fit on the screen, what overflows is lost… but you get a gem and plate charge (especially if you overflow with a POW). Once the screen is full you can rebirth: you get a new calculator with new keys. There are 12, and completing them leads to a finale you deliver yourself. We won’t say more.
Keyboard and mouse
Every control can be remapped in the menu.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Press keys and buttons |
| 1–9 | Calculator keys (the numpad works too) |
| F1–F10, Backspace and E | Function keys (EXP with E) |
| Enter | = key |
| Space | Release the POW |
| G | Casino lever |
| S | Open envelope |
| T | Phone |
| P | PC (POW-DOS) |
| R | Rebirth (when available) |
| M | Sound on/off |
| C | Recentre the camera |
| F11 | Fullscreen |
| Esc | Back to the desk |
| Right click · Wheel | Rotate the camera · Zoom |
Gamepad (Xbox or PlayStation)
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Left stick | Moves the hand, like a mouse |
| A / ✕ | Press |
| D-pad | Jump from key to key |
| RT | Release the POW |
| LT | Casino lever |
| Start | Menu |
| Select | PC (POW-DOS) |
| RB | Rebirth |
| Y / △ | Phone |
| X / □ | Open envelope |
| Right stick | Rotate the camera |
The desk and the HUD
| Element | What it is |
|---|---|
| 2.416 | Your number, the centre of everything. |
| POW · POT x^1.38 · 49% | The POW plate’s charge and the power it will raise your number to. |
| MULT ×2.51 | Your current multiplier. |
| ACCOUNTANT DAY 2 · 08:45 | Your position, and the day and time at the office. |
| ◆ 501 R 12 | Your gems and your rebirths. |
| Paper roll | The history: presses, crits (★), poster letters, gems… |
| OVERDRIVE · FEVER · STREAK | What’s happening right now. |
| Bottom bar | Progress towards the rebirth goal, on a log scale. |
The POW
The plate
Every press charges the POW plate; crits count double and golden keys heat it up. At 100%, release it with Space (RT on a gamepad).
The power
Your number is raised to the plate’s exponent (x^1.5 and rising). Streaks and upgrades push it up.
THE POW
Light up all six letters of the THE POW poster and the next POW becomes THE POW: x^20. And there’s THE POW².
Every switch has its own POW (star, rays, lettering, sound effect and what flies out). SUPER, MEGA and GIGA POW use a “strong” variant, and THE POW a “maximum” one; THE POW² wears it with inverted colours. Higher-level POWs sound more explosive.
Streaks, crits and combos
Streak!
Keep pressing without stopping: the higher the streak, the sooner crits arrive, the higher the POW’s exponent and the longer the combo chain lasts.
Critical hit!
Every so often an addition lands just right: it’s worth ×10 (sometimes ×25) and counts double for the POW.
Combo chain
Chaining POWs makes each one raise a bit more (“POW ×4 chained”). Upgrade it in the Combos tab.
Sparks, overdrive and fever
Spark!
Pops up at random when you press a key and multiplies that press (for example, SPARK! ×4).
Overdrive
Press very fast without stopping (10 presses in 3 seconds) and you go into overdrive: for a few seconds every press earns more and the POW comes sooner.
Fever!
A big POW can unleash it: 8 seconds at ×4, with sparks and a red ribbon. Keep pressing and it lasts longer.
Switches
Buy them in the PC’s Switches tab, and try each one before buying (TRY button). They change the shape and relief of the keys, their trims and colours, the press sound, the instrument of streaks, crits and combos, and what the POW looks like. The POW plate dresses up to match.
| Switch | Look | Sound | POW | Flies out | Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | The usual keys: golden yellow with the red plate. | The classic click | POW! | The classic red-and-yellow burst | — |
| Thock | Graphite and dusty pink, with a sculpted cap and a ridge. | Deep marimba | THOCK! | Little keycaps fly out | Your streak lasts 15% longer |
| Creamy | Cream and toffee: pillowy keys dripping with melted caramel. | Soft flute | MMMH! | Caramel drops | Overdrive lasts 15% longer |
| Tactile | Grained walnut with brass studs. | Wooden xylophone | TOC! | Wood shavings | Every press charges the POW 8% more |
| Clicky | Translucent blue with a backlight underneath. | Chiptune beeps | CLICK! | Electric sparks | — |
| Bubble | Pastel gummies with rainbow sprinkles. | “Bloops” | POP! | Rising bubbles | — |
| Typewriter | Round vintage typewriter keys with chrome rings. | Typewriter bell | CLAC! | Loose letters | — |
| Ceramic | Porcelain with a cobalt flower and a gold rim. | Glass | CLING! | Porcelain shards | — |
| Silent | Felt with stitching and a little tag. | Felted notes | SHHH! | Floating fluff | — |
| Navy | Navy and brass: hammered metal with rivets. | Brass bell | CLANG! | Coins | — |
Hear each one in the switches section of the home page.
The 12 calculators
Each rebirth gives you a new calculator with new keys. The ones with their own lights are animated: the nixie digits roll, the printer moves its print head, the toaster’s coils glow, the casino one flashes its bulbs…
| # | Calculator | In the demo |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Abacus | Yes |
| 02 | Beat-up | Yes |
| 03 | Hand-crank | Yes |
| 04 | Nixie | Yes |
| 05 | LED | Yes |
| 06 | Scientific | Yes |
| 07 | Graphing | Full game |
| 08 | Printing | Full game |
| 09 | Toaster | Full game |
| 10 | Casino | Full game |
| 11 | Holographic | Full game |
| 12 | Golden | Full game |
Promotions
- Clerk
- Accountant
- Section head
- Director
- Vice president
- President
When the PC shows PROMOTION AVAILABLE!, ask for it in the Promotion tab. Every promotion multiplies your earnings but makes upgrades pricier. Mechanics you’ve bought are kept when you’re promoted.
Amulets and the poster
- The shelf: every amulet you buy shows up on it and can go up to level 5.
- The THE POW poster: it fills up with letters as you play. With all six, THE POW arrives.
Desk items
Mechanics are bought once in the Upgrades tab and switch on something new on the desk for good.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Golden keys | Every so often a key turns gold: press it in time and it counts several times and heats the POW. |
| Coffee mug | A sip doubles your gains for a while and brings the POW closer. |
| Envelopes | They land on your desk; open them with S (X/□ on a gamepad). |
| Phone | Answer calls with T (Y/△). |
| Orders | Timed challenges (for example, “35 presses in a row without a miss”) that reward gems. |
| Intern | Presses additions for you without taking your keys, and brings the POW closer. |
| New calculators | Each one arrives in a box that opens with ceremony. |
| Overtime | At night the office changes, and you can bet gems at the casino too. |
POW-DOS 3.0
Press P (Select on a gamepad) to use the PC and spend your gems.
- Upgrades: mechanics (critical hits, coffee mug, streak, golden keys… and more) and levelled upgrades to press harder, recharge faster or raise the POW’s exponent.
- Amulets: shelf items with special effects, up to level 5.
- Switches: the 10 key styles, with a button to try them.
- Rebirth: once the screen is full, start over with a new calculator (or press R).
- Promotion: climb the ladder at POW CORP.
- Casino, Combos and Achievements (which give bonuses like +3% to gains).
- Guide: the in-game help.
Casino 7772
The lever sits on a casino pedestal with a marquee of bulbs that light up with every pull. Pull with G (LT on a gamepad) to bet part of your digits. By day you bet your number; at night, gems too.
- VIP table: an upgrade that lets you bet more.
- Double or nothing: after a win, guess whether the card is red or black. Right doubles your winnings; wrong loses them. Keep going for several rounds (up to 3, with a few seconds to decide) or collect whenever you like.
| Prize | Payout | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| POW POW POW | ×20 · POW +0.8 | 0.3% |
| 7 7 7 | ×10 | 1% |
| BAR BAR BAR | ×5 | 2.7% |
| Three bells | ×3 | 5.5% |
| Three fruits | ×2 | 13% |
| Pair | ×1 | 28% |
| Nothing | ×0 (you lose your stake) | 50% |
Values from version 0.9.6; they can change with your upgrades and amulets.
Options, accessibility and sound
- Calm mode: no flashes or shaking, for players sensitive to light (photosensitivity).
- Retro filter, separate volume sliders and an option to mute the game in the background.
- Remappable controls, with keyboard, mouse or gamepad.
- Layered music that intensifies with your rhythm, streak, overdrive and fever. M toggles the sound.
- 6 languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Tips
FAQ
Is there a demo?
Yes, free on itch.io: it goes up to the sixth calculator.
What do I need to play?
64-bit Windows and about 150 MB of free space. Play with keyboard and mouse or an Xbox or PlayStation controller.
Which languages does it support?
Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
How long is it?
The first campaign takes about 1 hour. The full game, about 4 hours playing actively and 8–9 hours at a relaxed pace.
Does it have accessibility options?
Yes: a mode without flashes or shaking, a retro filter, separate volumes and remappable controls.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, it saves automatically.
Can I make videos or stream it?
Of course! Just don’t redistribute the game.
How much does it cost?
The demo is free (you can leave a donation on itch.io). The full game’s price: coming soon.